Europe's stars out to end 14-years of Augusta hurt

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Updated 2024 GMT (0324 HKT) April 10, 2013

Photos: The Masters: Par 3 Contest18 photos

Photos: The Masters Par 3 Contest – Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland stands with his caddie (and professional tennis player) Caroline Wozniacki during the Par 3 Contest before the start of the 2013 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia on Wednesday, April 10.

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Photos: The Masters: Par 3 Contest18 photos

Photos: The Masters Par 3 Contest – Officials measure how close a ball landed to the pin on the ninth hole during the Par 3 Contest.

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Photos: The Masters: Par 3 Contest18 photos

Photos: The Masters Par 3 Contest – John Merrick of the U.S. putts as his son, Chase, watches.

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Photos: The Masters: Par 3 Contest18 photos

Photos: The Masters Par 3 Contest – Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. secretary of state and new member of Augusta National Golf Club, looks on with member Bruce A. Lilly of Minnesota during the annual Masters Par 3 Contest.

They produced the "Miracle of Medinah" but Europe's golfers face an almighty challenge to amaze at Augusta.

Not since Jose Maria Olazabal triumphed for the second time 14 years ago has anyone from across the Atlantic managed to get their hands on that green jacket.

In fact, Europe's record in the tournament has been abject in recent years with Lee Westwood the only man to have secured a runner-up finish since the turn of the century.

When the late, great, Seve Ballesteros became the first European to win the tournament back in 1980, it paved the way for the likes of Olazabal, three-time champion Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam and double winner Bernhard Langer to go on and dominate.

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Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and England's Justin Rose are ranked two and three in the world, while Donald sits fourth on the ladder.

But they will have to be at the peak of their powers to end Europe's bid for a famous green jacket with the likes of Woods and Mickelson the men to beat once again.

One man who believes this is his best chance of winning at Augusta is Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter.

The 37-year-old was a stand out star during Europe's incredible fightback, but he says recreating that kind of form in an individual event is incredibly difficult.

"You've got two sets of fans (at the Ryder Cup) and here you've got fans that are wishing 92 players play well," he told reporters

"It's very difficult to get that same atmosphere, recreate it. It just won't happen. But what will happen is on Sunday afternoon, when you're coming down the stretch, you will be feeling the same kind of emotions.

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Adam Scott remains its best hope having finished second two years ago and the 32-year-old is desperate to break the jinx.

"It's going to happen one day. We say it but it's up to one of us to make it happen," Scott told reporters.

"I've certainly developed a real level of comfort with the golf course in the last three years, so I say that (an Australian will win the Masters) quietly confident that I believe I can make it happen one of these years."

When Arnold Palmer drove up Magnolia Lane on the eve of the 1962 Masters, he was in a confident mood. This was to be his "Annus Mirabilis" -- the year he cemented his reputation as a global sporting superstar.